Mall Renovation Endorsed

Panel Rejects Proposal For Gas Station

SIMSBURY — The planning commission recommended Tuesday that the zoning board approve a $10 million renovation of the Farmington Valley Mall with one main exception -- that a gas station not be built.

Konover & Associates, which owns the mall, wants to upgrade the 27-year-old property with an eight-screen movie theater, a restaurant, a bookstore and a gas station.

But planning commissioners voted 5-1 that the gas station does not meet the needs of the community and would expose nearby homeowners to the possibility of gas leakage into the water system.

``I would have difficulty putting a gas station so close to a residential area,'' said planning commission Chairwoman Joan Howard. ``I don't see the need outweighs the possible problems.''

The vote by the planning commission does not eliminate the gas station proposal because the zoning commission has final say on the scope of the mall proposal and whether it goes forward.

Konover officials said they will continue to push for the gas station.

``I'm disappointed in not getting our gas station approved,'' said Michael Goman, executive vice president of Konover. He added that Stop & Shop supermarkets, which is already a mall tenant, has asked that a gas station be a requirement.

The planning commission also recommended that the zoning commission limit the hours of operation for the mall complex, that mall officials increase the number of trees and other buffers to screen the facility from the residential area and that Konover ensure that the increased lighting on the site not spill over into residents' homes.

Mall officials said they will attempt to incorporate the recommendations of the planning commission into their proposal.

``We'll do our best to account for as many concerns as we can,'' Goman said.

Although the planners approved of the proposed eight-screen movie theater by a vote of 5-1, they did express concern that eights screens might be too many.

``I think this is really aggressive,'' said planning commissioner Susan Bednarcyk, who voted against the movie theater proposal.

The zoning commission is scheduled to vote on the proposal next month. Konover said if the mall is approved, they hope to finish construction by next fall.